SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – Second-ranked Mount Union buried a trio of 3-point baskets in the second half to fend off a stubborn Albion team, 68-53, in the opening round of the Charles B. Zimmerman Memorial Classic.

Albion will meet Defiance, Ohio, College, a 62-44 loser to Wittenberg University, in the tournament's consolation game at noon Saturday.

Mount Union hit on four of its first six shots and Marybeth Leitch knocked down a pair of free throws as it sprinted out to a 12-2 lead less than three minutes into the contest. Mount Union would lead by as many as 13 until Brett de Bear scored seven points and Taylor Nugent tacked on a layup to pull Albion within four, 18-14,with 8 ½ minutes left in the first half.

Mount Union built the margin to 13 a second time, but Albion ripped off a 12-1 run over the final three minutes of the half to trail 33-31 at halftime. de Bear scored nine points in the stretch run and she finished the first half with 16.

Mount Union was clinging to a 49-45 lead midway through the second half when Tierney Allen, Nancy Osbourne, and Maggie Miller all connected from long distance to expand the margin to double digits.

de Bear led all players with 25 points on 10-of-16 shooting from the field. Nugent added nine points and four steals.

Mount Union had 19 players participate in the contest, and the Purple Raiders had balanced scoring with Allen and Osbourne finishing with 13 points apiece. Rosa LaMattina contributed 10 points and five assists and Annie Bova and Aly Daniel chipped in with eight points each.